Delandre had quarrelled with his sister--or perhaps it was that she had
quarrelled with him--and they were on terms not merely of armed
neutrality but of bitter hatred. The quarrel had been antecedent to
Margaret going to Brent's Rock. She and Wykham had almost come to blows.
There had certainly been threats on one side and on the other; and in
the end Wykham, overcome with passion, had ordered his sister to leave
his house. She had risen straightway, and, without waiting to pack up
even her own personal belongings, had walked out of the house. On the
threshold she had paused for a moment to hurl a bitter threat at Wykham
that he would rue in shame and despair to the last hour of his life his
act of that day. Some weeks had since passed; and it was understood in
the neighbourhood that Margaret had gone to London, when she suddenly
appeared driving out with Geoffrey Brent, and the entire neighbourhood
knew before nightfall that she had taken up her abode at the Rock. It
was no subject of surprise that Brent had come back unexpectedly, for
such was his usual custom. Even his own servants never knew when to
expect him, for there was a private door, of which he alone had the key,
by which he sometimes entered without anyone in the house being aware of
his coming. This was his usual method of appearing after a long absence.

Wykham Delandre was furious at the news. He vowed vengeance--and to keep
his mind level with his passion drank deeper than ever. He tried several
times to see his sister, but she contemptuously refused to meet him. He
tried to have an interview with Brent and was refused by him also. Then
he tried to stop him in the road, but without avail, for Geoffrey was
not a man to be stopped against his will. Several actual encounters took
place between the two men, and many more were threatened and avoided. At
last Wykham Delandre settled down to a morose, vengeful acceptance of
the situation.